Rooney back in business

4-0 away to local rivals Bolton. Sheringham, at 40 the top-flight’s oldest player, put West Ham on course to end an eight-match losing run with a flying header in a 2-1 home win over Blackburn.
United stay top on goal-difference from Chelsea who won 2-0 at Sheffield United. Benjani, the Zimbabwe skipper, squandered two glorious chances for fourth-placed Portsmouth in their 3-1 home defeat of Reading, while Aston Villa’s unbeaten record ended with a 3-1 loss at Liverpool.
Two combative ex-England midfielders, Dennis Wise and Paul Ince, sampled delight and despair respectively as managers at new clubs. Wise’s Leeds climbed out of the Championship relegation zone with a 2-0 home win over Southend, while Ince’s Macclesfield, bottom of the entire 92-club Football League, lost 3-2 at home to Mansfield. Ritchie Barker scored the winner, against his former club, with a last-minute penalty.
In the Scottish Premier, Celtic are 10 points clear after winning 2-1 at Kilmarnock. Hearts, lying second amid internal turmoil, and third-placed Rangers were both held 1-1 at home by lowly Dunfermline and Motherwell respectively.
In England this Saturday, Manchester United host Portsmouth, while newly-promoted Watford, still without a win, are at home to Middlesbrough. In Scotland top plays second when Celtic are at home to Hearts. On Sunday, Tottenham face Chelsea in a big London derby at White Hart Lane.